Courier surprises readers, gives out $500 in Giant Eagle gift cards for Thanksgiving

THE COURIER’S BILL NEAL SURPRISES COURIER READER FRANK GARDNER OF EAST LIBERTY WITH A $25 GIANT EAGLE GIFT CARD FOR THANKSGIVING! (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)

SERVING THE COMMUNITY—THE COURIER’S THANKSGIVING GIVEBACK 2024

Imagine the thousands of people racing into their local grocery store, two days before Thanksgiving, trying to get all the food, plates, cups, etc., that they’ll need for the big Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family.

That’s how it felt inside the Shadyside Market District Giant Eagle on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, but there was one twist.

The New Pittsburgh Courier, which is sold at the Shadyside location, decided to surprise some of its readers shopping in the store with a free $25 Giant Eagle gift card, just as a “thank you” for “being you.” And to help out with some of the cost of the Thanksgiving grocery bill.

The fun began around 3:30 p.m., as Courier celebrity personalities Merecedes J. Williams (Courier movie critic) and Bill Neal (Courier sports columnist) walked around the store and surprised people with the gift card and a free Courier print edition. Williams presented the first gift card to Esther Taylor of the Hill District, who told the Courier “it feels wonderful” to get the gift card, as she purchases the Courier “every week.”

COURIER READER VALERIE STAGGER OF STANTON HEIGHTS WON A $25 GIANT EAGLE GIFT CARD! ALSO PICTURED ARE THE COURIER’S MERECEDES J. WILLIAMS (FAR LEFT) AND ROB TAYLOR JR.

Pittsburgh resident Maisha Howze unexpectedly received a gift card, which she called, “truly a blessing.”

Others who received the surprise of the day included Lawrence and Carla Street from Penn Hills, and Frank Gardner of the Hill District, thanks to Neal; and Kira Henderson and Robin Heart, thanks to Williams.

By 4 p.m., as the store was packed, customers began placing their name in the big Courier prize box, knowing that 20 minutes later, the Courier would be drawing random names for additional $25 Giant Eagle gift cards, as well as turkeys donated by the Shadyside Market District. The Courier’s managing editor, Rob Taylor Jr., made announcements over the Giant Eagle intercom system, as Williams and Neal announced the winners’ names over the intercom. Some of the winners included Valerie Stagger of Stanton Heights, Davon Scott from the Hill, and Joyce Turner from East Liberty.

Over the next hour and a half, Courier freelance photographer Chief Ikhana and freelance columnist Fawn Walker Montgomery greeted more than 200 Courier readers and presented each person with a complimentary Courier print edition.

When it was all said and done, 20 $25 Giant Eagle gift cards were distributed throughout the afternoon, totaling $500 worth of free groceries, along with five free turkeys, in the Courier’s first-ever “Thanksgiving Giveback,” in partnership with Giant Eagle.

GIANT EAGLE’S SHADYSIDE MARKET DISTRICT CONTRIBUTED FREE TURKEYS AT THE EVENT! AMONG THOSE WINNERS WERE MICHAEL LUTZ OF MOUNT WASHINGTON (SECOND FROM LEFT), BOBBIE JO LLOYD OF TROY HILL (CENTER) AND JODORIE WALKER, A HILL DISTRICT RESIDENT (FAR RIGHT). (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)